How To Stretch Work Boots
DIY Workwear

How To Stretch Work Boots

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I feel delighted when I buy new things. Be it clothes, groceries, house decoration, kitchen utensils or even stationery items. I think retail therapy is at work and there is a sense of excitement and newness in shopping and spending your hard earned money well. But whenever I buy work boots, it is exciting but also causes nervousness side by side. Do you know what I mean? Right!

No matter how long you take to try workwear boots at the shoe store or if you order it online and the size you choose is your accurate size. The new shoes will bite until you stretch your work boots right.

So, I thought that it was such a legit issue that needed some remedy and solution. It is unfair to buy new boots, pinching toes and not experience “the Happy Feet Feeling”.

Boots Stretching Process
Boots Stretching Process

This article will enlighten you about the best practices and remedies that solve the work boot stretch problems. In addition, we will address how to stretch the work boots immediately after you buy them to avoid any boot stress.

Stretch Work Boots With Spray Or Oil Conditioner

Many brands are available in the online marketplace that offers oil sprays and conditioners to resolve the shoe stretch problem. In addition, you can get the product sprays in general superstores and cobbler shops.

The shoe stretch sprays are the shoe surface or inner softeners used to treat the stiffness and flexibility of the material.

If you are using the shoe oil conditioner, you have to rub a small amount on the outside of the leather and let it soak for a while. The leather softener will condition the shoe and relax the area where it is tight on your foot.

Stretch Work Boots With Spray Or Oil Conditioner
Stretch Work Boots With Spray Or Oil Conditioner

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It is crucial for you to carefully read the instructions on the boot spray bottle and identify if the spray is made to use for external or internal leather softening. If you miss that part of the instruction, it might ruin your new boots.

These sprays are usually made of mixtures of alcohol and water with a 1 to 10 ratio, respectively. If you don’t want to spend money on the spray, you can make concoction at home. However, I would recommend using the homemade concoction inside first not to risk the re-colouration of the shoe.

Spray on Boots
Spray on Boots

Use A Boot Stretcher

Boot stretcher is another product that is readily available in the market. It is a tool-like product that you need to insert into your tight shoe and leave it for some time to feel a difference. As the name says, the anatomy of the shoe changes when you put the boot stretcher in it, and leather stretches because of its elastic attribute from the toes or calf where you feel the tightening of your feet.

If you are planning to buy a boot stretcher, you should be careful in selecting the size and width. Choose a boot stretcher that is flexible to control the stretch factor. Otherwise, it can damage the leather surface, and you can see cracks appearing soon. The main problem in the boots is the toe space that can be fixed by using the boot stretcher a few times on the newly bought shoes.

Boots Stretcher
Boots Stretcher

Wear Thick Socks

When you buy a new pair of shoes, you need to identify the general feeling of discomfort. It is essential to know the problem first and then pick and choose the remedy instead of testing everything that comes your way. For example, if you don’t feel identifiable stress on the toes or calves, you don’t need to use the boot stretcher or conditioning spray.

The thick pair of socks will effectively set your boots and feet in harmonious coexistence. In addition, the thick socks will provide a thicker cover to avoid blisters on the toes or ankles. However, you need to bear with the sense of tightness for a week or so. But afterwards, it’s all convenient for as long as you like to wear this pair of boots.

Thick Socks to Stretch Boots
Thick Socks to Stretch Boots

If you wanted to know the reason why new boots give you boot blues, simply because they are sitting in a warehouse or store shelf waiting for you to buy and that makes them a little stiff. But if you like to spend some quality time with them, pamper them with some concoctions and wear them before going to work, they will accommodate for sure. Develop a relationship, invest in it, and it promises you the comfort of togetherness.

Warm The Leather

Another easy method to stretch boots is to introduce some heat to the surface, which is stiff and try stretching it. This method needs extra care and attention. Use the source of hot air like a hairdryer on the inner side of the boot. Use medium heat throw, and once you feel the warmth on the outer surface of the boot, stuff in the socks ball, tightly inside the boots toes area. Leave it there for a few hours. Now try if it gets a little comfortable to wear with thick socks on. If you feel the mildest change of the size positively, this is the method for you to keep doing it once a day, and the boot will become your comfortable size in 2-3 days.

Stretch via Hot Air
Stretch via Hot Air

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Freeze Them

The water freezes and turns into ice and spreads in its surface area. This is the science lecture I remember from my school time. You need to get polythene sandwich size airtight bags and fill them with water. Float them inside the shoe and make sure that they cover the inner toe area without leaving a gap. Put them into the refrigerator overnight and in the morning, take them out in the sunlight and let the ice bags melt inside. Take the bags out of the boots and try them. Hopefully, the ice spread inside the shoe overnight stretches it well to your size.

This works, but my only hitch is that I don’t want to directly put boots into my freezer. So, get clean polythene bags to wrap your shoes.

Freeze Technique for Stretching
Freeze Technique for Stretching

Last Words

Lucky are those who order their shoes online, and because they have standard feet sizes, their new boots fit them well. We are discussing people’s issue of having trouble finding a perfect shoe size and they are looking for remedies to stretch their newly bought shoes. In this article, we are sharing some methods and DIY ideas to Stretch work boots at home. If you read the full article, you will find at least one solution to fix your work boot stretching and get rid of your shoe blues this time.

Image Source: Shutterstock

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